Novak Djokovic’s return to the court fell far short of expectations, as the Serbian star suffered a first-round defeat at the Rome Masters to Croatia’s Dino Prizmic, 6-2, 2-6, 4-6. The match exposed his lack of competitive rhythm, despite an exceptional performance in the opening set.
**Missed Opportunity Before Roland Garros**
With this loss, Djokovic misses a valuable chance to build physical and mental readiness ahead of Roland Garros, unless he decides to play in Geneva, as he did last season when he won the title the week before the French Open.
Regardless, the Serbian will arrive in Paris without a win on clay in any major preparatory event—a scenario that also unfolded last year, when he lost his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid. This season, he skipped those two tournaments, opting to play in Rome instead, but failed to achieve the desired result.
**Brilliant Start, Then Gradual Collapse**
Djokovic began the match in stunning form, playing high-level tennis and placing nearly every ball on the line, leaving Prizmic with no real chance. However, his easy 6-2 first-set win did not reflect the match’s true dynamics, as the Croat’s game improved significantly.
Prizmic, ranked 37th in the world, capitalized on Djokovic’s weakest moments and responded with a 6-2 second set to level the match. The Serbian tried to mount a comeback in the decisive set, but he had given his opponent too much space. After breaking serve at a crucial point, Prizmic closed out the match without major trouble.
**Alcaraz’s Absence Opens the Door**
This victory marks a major achievement for Prizmic against “Nole,” who has proven to be far from his usual level at this point.
Paris is just around the corner, and in about 15 days Roland Garros will begin without its Spanish champion Carlos Alcaraz, winner of the last two titles. His absence opens the door for greater opportunities for Djokovic, who has repeatedly shown his ability to raise his game at Grand Slams.
Whether he chooses to play in Geneva or not, the 37-year-old, 24-time Grand Slam champion will need to improve significantly before starting his journey at Roland Garros, where he will aim for his fourth title at the French tournament.